Re: Widnes on thursday : Sat Mar 08, 2014 8:59 pm  

stadge wrote:

Personally I am concerned about the lack of pace in the side both defensively and offensivley. When teams move the ball quick and wide we are struggling.
There is no real pace or movement to our attacks at all.

Also our fitness levels are poor. Second half fade out again.

I know we are a new team and will take time to gel but that is no excuse for fitness. Also, as a new side, why didn't we play more pre-season games.

I have genuine concerns over where we will finish this season. Hopefully if we can get Chase fit again it will pep us in attack at least.

The worrying thing is persisting with Howarth -shocking player who slows everything down. How he can be preferred to Owen baffles.

Your first line mentions lack of pace both defensively and offensively - You then mention Howarth slows everything down.
In 2012,when he had lesser names around him the side did not finish with the wooden spoon.They did last year while Howarth was at Saints.Howarth cannot possibly be blamed for that.
Perhaps when the rest of the side 'up their game' Howarth will do likewise.
It is a team game and his stats are not glaringly worse - or better- than others.
For a player to go through the coaching set-up at Wigan Academy - which is praised - then be selected by 3 Super League coaches - Veivers,Brown and Noble - he must be doing something right.
The forwards do seem reluctant to take the ball up so it does limit his options.
As long as it isn't a confidence thing though,if it is I'm sure the Tw@tter comments and this forum will assist...

I do concur with the rest of the post - especially the hope of the pep in the attack - but conceding 70 points in 2 games also needs addressing.

Re: Widnes on thursday : Sat Mar 08, 2014 9:21 pm  

Red-Devils-PAW wrote:

Your first line mentions lack of pace both defensively and offensively - You then mention Howarth slows everything down.
In 2012,when he had lesser names around him the side did not finish with the wooden spoon.They did last year while Howarth was at Saints.Howarth cannot possibly be blamed for that.
Perhaps when the rest of the side 'up their game' Howarth will do likewise.
It is a team game and his stats are not glaringly worse - or better- than others.
For a player to go through the coaching set-up at Wigan Academy - which is praised - then be selected by 3 Super League coaches - Veivers,Brown and Noble - he must be doing something right.
The forwards do seem reluctant to take the ball up so it does limit his options.
As long as it isn't a confidence thing though,if it is I'm sure the Tw@tter comments and this forum will assist...

I do concur with the rest of the post - especially the hope of the pep in the attack - but conceding 70 points in 2 games also needs addressing.

I'll ask you again, do you think he played well on Thursday? And did you not notice how we improved when he went off? I admire your loyalty to him, and I honestly hope I am proved wrong and he turns out to e the player you seem to think he is, I just can't see it

Re: Widnes on thursday : Sun Mar 09, 2014 11:25 am  

terrykelly wrote:

Widnes will suffer some BIG defeats this season, but NOT on that plastic green shiyeet that is in their rented home. CHEATING SCOUSERS

Ha ha. The old scousers yarn! God bless ya!

Anyway, here's how I saw/see it. We were the better team on Thursday but not by much. We simply did the basics better and that counts over 80 mins. You build a team not implant one. We are seeing the benefits of building a team. The new recruits you have signed will take time to gel together in competitive games and you'll see the results come mid season as you already had a solid base of a team.

Both teams had plenty of players out with injuries etc but we, as a group having played together longer dealt better with it.

I think the problem with a lot if fans regarding The Doc are that we've been building a solid foundation for 5/6 years and then along comes Marwan and throws a shed load of dosh at it in one fell swoop and if we were to go down on the back of that it would be disappointing due to the hard work that has gone on here over the license qualification period and afterwards. Others think he is just too brash. Me, I have no problem with him. He brings publicity and is always good fun on Twitter where he engages people. FWIW, I don't think there'll be a problem with relegation for either if us. Best of luck for the rest of the season!

Re: Widnes on thursday : Sun Mar 09, 2014 12:53 pm  

How anyone can possibly stick-up for Howarth after his start to the season is beyond me. I'm not one for slagging players-off generally speaking, but Howarth has come in for deserved criticism. Too slow around the play-the-ball, distribution is poor, tackling is poor (Constant second and third man in tackles only fool the stat whores) no pace, and gives away penalties. He's not the only reason we have been poor as a team, but to have such a crucial role filled with such a mediocre player goes some way to give us an idea.

I really truly wish he'd prove me wrong and get his act together, but I fear this is the only act he has. I'm still puzzled as to why he gets a constant first 17 spot.

Re: Widnes on thursday : Sun Mar 09, 2014 2:38 pm  

Spot on

Re: Widnes on thursday : Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:36 pm  

St pete wrote: This http://m.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3859 A compelling argument from yourself. I take it you're incapable of forming your own opinion and coherent explanation, then? That's a rhetorical question (look it up), by the way, no need to answer. As for the way this thread has developed since... It's no wonder the Widnes fans I know can't stand their own supporters. Jesus H.

St pete wrote: This http://m.saintsrlfc.com/news/page/3859 A compelling argument from yourself. I take it you're incapable of forming your own opinion and coherent explanation, then? That's a rhetorical question (look it up), by the way, no need to answer. As for the way this thread has developed since... It's no wonder the Widnes fans I know can't stand their own supporters. Jesus H.

Re: Widnes on thursday : Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:42 pm  

TheButcher wrote:

How anyone can possibly stick-up for Howarth after his start to the season is beyond me. I'm not one for slagging players-off generally speaking, but Howarth has come in for deserved criticism. Too slow around the play-the-ball, distribution is poor, tackling is poor (Constant second and third man in tackles only fool the stat whores) no pace, and gives away penalties. He's not the only reason we have been poor as a team, but to have such a crucial role filled with such a mediocre player goes some way to give us an idea.

I really truly wish he'd prove me wrong and get his act together, but I fear this is the only act he has. I'm still puzzled as to why he gets a constant first 17 spot.

Spot on, I know we haven't hit our straps as some expected quite yet but he is definately the weak link in the team, keep saying it but if Theo was good enough to be picked for his national team in the world cup at hooker surely he must merit a bench spot in the same position before Howarth. Theo looked dangerous in broken play the other day at Widnes so surely scooting from the ruck when the someone like Tasi has skiktled a few is preferable to Howarth and his 5 second pick up and head high pass to the first receiver.

Re: Widnes on thursday : Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:44 pm  

Mike Ehrmantraut wrote:

He isn't a Salford fan.

Correct Bruce goes on all the forums after a reaction. He is definitely the best Troll ever.

Re: Widnes on thursday : Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:06 pm  

Michigan red wrote:

Spot on, I know we haven't hit our straps as some expected quite yet but he is definately the weak link in the team, keep saying it but if Theo was good enough to be picked for his national team in the world cup at hooker surely he must merit a bench spot in the same position before Howarth. Theo looked dangerous in broken play the other day at Widnes so surely scooting from the ruck when the someone like Tasi has skiktled a few is preferable to Howarth and his 5 second pick up and head high pass to the first receiver.

I agree, I think Theo would do a better job as an interchange hooker. Let's face it, he's not going to be worse than Howarth now is he?

Re: Widnes on thursday : Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:43 am  

Red-Devils-PAW wrote:

Your first line mentions lack of pace both defensively and offensively - You then mention Howarth slows everything down.
In 2012,when he had lesser names around him the side did not finish with the wooden spoon.They did last year while Howarth was at Saints.Howarth cannot possibly be blamed for that.
Perhaps when the rest of the side 'up their game' Howarth will do likewise.
It is a team game and his stats are not glaringly worse - or better- than others.
For a player to go through the coaching set-up at Wigan Academy - which is praised - then be selected by 3 Super League coaches - Veivers,Brown and Noble - he must be doing something right.
The forwards do seem reluctant to take the ball up so it does limit his options.
As long as it isn't a confidence thing though,if it is I'm sure the Tw@tter comments and this forum will assist...

I do concur with the rest of the post - especially the hope of the pep in the attack - but conceding 70 points in 2 games also needs addressing.

Lesser names in 2012, are you sure? Matty Smith, Holdsworth, Sidlow, Moon, Sean Gleeson, Patten. 2013 was the season we had lesser names, and why we finished bottom. I wouldnt of thought how many games Howarth did or didnt play was a significant contributory factor?